Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd (PK)【GELYF】株式ニュース

Kandi Technologies ($KNDI) and Geely $GELYF share a long, intertwined history in China’s electric-vehicle evolution—one built on collaboration, experimentation, and the shared ambition to electrify mobility at scale. Though their paths have diverged over time, the legacy of their partnership continues to shape both companies’ identities and influence the broader EV landscape.

Kandi Technologies began as a manufacturer of electric vehicles and batteries, founded in 2002 in Jinhua, Zhejiang. Over the years, it evolved into a global innovator in intelligent equipment, anchoring its strategy in all-domain electric vehicles supported by battery-swapping systems and intelligent robotics. This transformation reflects Kandi’s broader mission to bring advanced technology into everyday life through open collaboration and sustainable development.

One of the most defining chapters in Kandi’s history came in 2013, when it formed a major joint venture with Shanghai Maple, a subsidiary of Geely. The partnership—Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment Co. Ltd.—was established with equal ownership and an initial registered capital of 1 billion yuan. Its purpose was ambitious: to research, develop, produce, market, and sell electric vehicles across mainland China. Geely’s chairman, Li Shufu, served as the joint venture’s first chairman, while Kandi’s founder Hu Xiaoming took on the role of general manager.

This collaboration produced several notable outcomes. Geely contributed design expertise while Kandi handled manufacturing, resulting in models such as the EX3, which blended Geely’s styling with Kandi’s production capabilities. The partnership also supported Kandi’s groundbreaking EV Car Share program in Hangzhou, where Kandi supplied thousands of compact EVs accessible through automated “car vending machine” garages. These vehicles relied on battery-swap systems—an early precursor to the battery-exchange technologies now gaining global attention.

Although Geely later transferred its stake in the joint venture to its parent company, Geely Holding Group, the collaboration left a lasting impact. It demonstrated how a large automaker and a nimble EV specialist could combine strengths to accelerate electrification in urban environments. It also helped establish Kandi as a credible force in EV manufacturing and infrastructure development.

Today, Kandi continues to expand its influence—most notably through its partnership with CBAK Energy to build two lithium-battery production facilities in the United States. These facilities, one focused on pack assembly and the other on cell manufacturing, aim to strengthen North America’s domestic supply chain for off-road EVs and energy-storage applications. The initiative aligns with U.S. clean-energy incentives and reflects shifting global priorities toward localized battery production.

Geely, meanwhile, has grown into one of the world’s most diversified automotive groups, with brands ranging from Volvo to Polestar to Zeekr. Its early collaboration with Kandi was just one step in a much larger journey toward becoming a global leader in electrified mobility.

Together, Kandi and Geely illustrate how partnerships—whether temporary or long-term—can accelerate innovation and reshape entire industries. Their shared history is a reminder that the EV revolution is not driven by competition alone, but by collaboration, experimentation, and the willingness to build the future together.